Why Stacy Francis Could Have Won The X Factor

Well... she was eliminated on November 17th, 2011, but here's how we thought she might have had a chance if things had broken differently for her:

The 42-year-old alleged diva, Stacy Francis, a single mom from Brooklyn, showed off her powerhouse vocals early on, blowing away the judges with her take on “Natural Woman.” Although her roof-raising performances have occasionally been criticized as over-the-top, they’ve put Stacy’s obvious talent very much on display. While there’s something to be said for subtlety, sometimes the best way to get and keep the audience’s attention is simply to demand it.

Stacy also has the benefit of an interesting backstory. Although she had some success as a performer many years ago, her abusive ex-husband shattered her confidence and as a result her dreams of stardom were pushed aside. As the second-oldest contestant, there’s definitely the sense that this is her last chance — in fact, Stacy herself certainly seems to think it is. “I can’t die with this music inside me,” she begged Simon at her audition. The audience is likely to empathize with Stacy’s predicament, which could absolutely translate to more votes.

What do you think? Will Stacy’s dreams of superstardom finally come true, or will someone else take home the big prize? UPDATE - They didn't, and someone else will.